JP4006134B2 - PRINT CONTROL DEVICE, PRINT SYSTEM, PRINT CONTROL METHOD, STORAGE MEDIUM - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a print control apparatus that analyzes a print job received via a communication medium, develops it into a raster image, and outputs the raster image to a printer engine unit, and print control of a printing system including the print control apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A network print system that connects to a computer network such as a LAN and prints in response to a print request from an arbitrary computer on the network is configured as shown in FIG.
[0003]
FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of this type of printing system.
[0004]
In the printing system shown in FIG. 13, a printer stores information about a client computer 1, an application 2 that operates on the client computer 1, document data 3 created on the application 2, and document data 3 passed from the application 2. From the printer driver 4 that works to convert the data into an interpretable data format, the network path 6 to which the print data 5 converted by the printer driver 4 is transferred, the print spooler 7 that receives the print data 5 once, from the print spooler 7 A rasterizer 10 that reads out the print data 5 and develops it into printable bitmap data, and a print engine unit 11 that prints the developed bitmap data.
[0005]
In the network print system managed by the system administrator, there is a request for checking whether or not the general user has used the print properly for the purpose of reducing the cost required for printing.
[0006]
For this reason, in the conventional network print system, the printer driver 4 converts the information of the document data 3 received from the application 2 into the print data 5, in addition to various conditions essential for printing, Information such as work date and time, computer owner information, and document name is added.
[0007]
On the other hand, depending on the printing system, the contents of the information are recorded as a print log as needed along with the actual printing time, and used as information for the administrator to grasp the usage status of the printing system and perform appropriate management. There is something that can be done.
[0008]
In addition, there is a system having a function of storing and storing image information of printed images in a number set according to the limitation of the storage device on the printer side.
[0009]
According to such a system, it is possible for an administrator to check an image that has been actually printed later to check whether unauthorized printing has been performed.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
According to the conventional printing system (network print system) configured as described above, print processing is executed in response to a request from each computer (client) on the network, and simultaneously printed records are taken. The administrator can check the print status after a certain amount of time has elapsed.
[0011]
However, in general, since only limited information remains in the print record, it was impossible to determine what image was actually printed from the print record alone.
[0012]
In the case of a system having a function for storing and storing image information of printed images, which is set in accordance with the limitation of the storage device on the printer side, an image actually printed by the administrator later It is possible to check whether or not unauthorized printing has been performed, but generally the print information has a large capacity, and it is not possible to retain all the information due to the limitation of the storage device on the printer side. It is possible to automatically delete old print jobs when a certain number is exceeded.
[0013]
For this reason, even if the administrator checks the image information, there is a problem that if there is a large number of print requests, an image of an old print job is deleted.
[0014]
Therefore, according to these conventional techniques, only the method of checking after the fact according to the record after the printing can be taken. There was a problem that a sufficient method was not provided for the request to check whether or not the print was used.
[0015]
The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to determine whether or not the client computer has an authority to output a print job when the print job is received from the client computer. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism that can adaptively determine whether to develop a received raster image from a received print job.
In addition, when another print job is received from the client computer, the other purpose is adapted to whether or not the name of the application of the client computer outputting the print job is registered as an application capable of print output. An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism capable of determining whether or not to develop a raster image from a print job.
Another object is to send a Web page to the print control apparatus and perform printing, when the client computer receives rank information from a content advisor server that manages the rank of the Web page on the Internet, and print job A print job with the URL rank information added thereto is generated and transferred to the print control apparatus. When the rank information of the received print job is within a preset reference, the print control apparatus starts from the received job. An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism capable of determining whether or not to perform raster image development.
[0016]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The printing control apparatus according to the present invention has the following characteristic configuration.
A print control apparatus that analyzes a print job received via a communication medium, develops it into a raster image, and outputs the raster image to a printer engine unit, the storage means temporarily storing the received print job, and the storage means A print job analysis unit that analyzes the print job stored in the database, a database unit that is referred to when the print job analysis unit analyzes the print job, and a raster image that represents the print job received from the print job analysis unit. Expansion means for expanding the print job, wherein the print job analysis means refers to the database means for information of the client computer that generated the print job included in the additional information of the print job, and refers to the database means. As a result, the print job is generated. And the said print job analysis unit when the client computer is determined to have authority to output and transmits the print job to the expansion means.
[0049]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing system to which the printing control apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be applied. The same components as those in FIG. 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0050]
In FIG. 1, 8 is a print data interpretation unit, and 9 is a reference database.
[0051]
The processing from the application 2 to the actual printing will be described in order. The client computer 1 is connected to the LAN, and the document data 3 created on the application software 2 operating on the client computer 1 is The information of the document data 3 is transferred from the application software 2 to the printer driver 4 which operates to convert the information into a data format interpretable by the printer P.
[0052]
At this time, when the printer driver 4 generates the print data 5 in the page description language format, the print data 5 includes information on the network address of the client computer 1, the name of the application software 2, and the serial number of the application software 2. Append. The print data 5 once stored in the spooler 7 of the network printer via the connected network path 6 is then sent to the print data interpretation unit 8.
[0053]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the first data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the data processing procedure by the print data interpretation unit 8 shown in FIG. In addition, (1)-(12) shows each step.
[0054]
First, when print data is sent from the print spooler 7 to the print data interpretation unit 8 in step (1), the sent print data is analyzed in step (2). In step (3), the printer rasterizer is analyzed. The information of the network address of the computer, the name of the application software, and the serial number added to the print data 3 by the print data interpretation unit 8 was printed in the past before being interpreted in 10 and expanded into a bitmap. When the information in the database 9 in which the information is recorded is collated, and in step (4), as a result of collation of the print data, data of a combination of network addresses of different computers with respect to the serial number of the same application is detected The decision is NO and the next branch is entered In step (5), it is determined whether there are multiple licenses that can be used for the application with the corresponding serial number. If it is determined that there are multiple licenses, in step (6), the number of combinations that can be used depending on the license is exceeded. In step (7), the print data 5 is transferred to the rasterizer 10 if it is determined that it has not exceeded.
[0055]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step (6) that it has exceeded, in step (12), the expansion process of the print data is interrupted, and the process ends without printing.
[0056]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step (5) that the application with the corresponding serial number is not a license that can be used, the combination of the serial number of the same application and the network address of the computer matches in step (11). The print data development process is interrupted, and the process ends without printing.
[0057]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step (4) that a combination of network addresses of the same computer for the serial number of the same application is detected as a result of the collation of the print data, printing is performed in step (10). The data is transferred from the data interpreter 8 to the rasterizer 10, and the print data 5 is converted into bitmap data in step (8), sent to the print engine 11 in step (9), and printed on the print material. The process ends.
[0058]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the network print system can cancel printing when a general user tries to print from an application exceeding the limit of the use license.
[0059]
[Second Embodiment]
Further, as a second embodiment, as a reference when the print data interpretation unit 8 interprets the print data 5 to which the information about the network address of the client computer 1, the name of the application software, and the serial number of the application software is added. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a case where the application type itself is used as a reference.
[0060]
In the case of the present embodiment, it is necessary for the administrator to register in advance the types of application software that can be printed by the administrator in the print data interpretation unit 8.
[0061]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a second data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the data processing procedure by the print data interpretation unit 8 shown in FIG. In addition, (1)-(8) shows each step.
[0062]
First, when print data is sent from the print spooler 7 to the print data interpretation unit 8 in step (1), the sent print data is analyzed in step (2). In step (3), the printer rasterizer is analyzed. The information of the network address of the computer, the name of the application software, and the serial number added to the print data 3 by the print data interpretation unit 8 was printed in the past before being interpreted in 10 and expanded into a bitmap. In step (4), it is determined whether or not the application software that created the corresponding print data 5 is printable application software registered in advance by the administrator. As a result, the printable data If not, the data is transferred to the rasterizer 10 in step (5), the print data 5 is converted (rasterized) into bitmap data in step (6), and the printer engine unit 11 is converted in step (7). Is printed on the print material (recording medium), and the process is terminated.
[0063]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step (4) that the data is print restriction data, the print process is stopped in step (8), and the process ends.
[0064]
According to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent a general user from printing from software other than the application preset by the network administrator.
[0065]
[Third Embodiment]
Next, a description will be given of a network printing system that restricts Web printing for printing information acquired using the Internet based on rank information as additional information.
[0066]
On the so-called Internet, there is a mechanism for restricting contents to be accessed by accessing a server generally called a content advisor.
[0067]
This is a list of contents on the Internet divided into categories in a database of a server called a content advisor. This mechanism originally limits the content that can be accessed by information categorized in the content advisor database in order to prevent youth and others from accessing harmful content on the Internet. This is a function installed in the browsing software, and this embodiment proposes a method of applying print restrictions by using information from the content advisor.
[0068]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the print control apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0069]
In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a Web browser, and application software can check with the content advisor server 20 via the Internet INET. When printing from the Web browser 21, the Web browser 21 first tries to access. The content advisor server 20 is inquired regarding the URL (Uniform Resource Location) of the content.
[0070]
Next, the content advisor server 20 searches the database for the URL requested to be accessed, and returns rank information 22 of the corresponding URL to the Web browser 21. The Web browser 21 holds the rank information 22 and adds the rank information 22 when the printer driver 4 creates the print data 5 when printing.
[0071]
The print data 5 once stored in the spooler 7 of the network printer via the connected network path 6 is then sent to the print data interpretation unit 8.
[0072]
The print data interpretation unit 3 compares the rank information 22 with a preset reference. If the rank information 22 is within the reference as a result of the comparison, the print data interpretation unit 3 passes the rank information 22 to the rasterizer 10. It is converted into map data, sent to the printer engine 11, and printed on the print material.
[0073]
On the other hand, if the rank information 22 is out of the standard as a result of the collation, the print data expansion process is interrupted, and the process is terminated without printing.
[0074]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a third data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the data processing procedure by the print data interpretation unit 8 shown in FIG. In addition, (1)-(8) shows each step.
[0075]
First, when print data is sent from the print spooler 7 to the print data interpretation unit 8 in step (1), the sent print data is analyzed in step (2). In step (3), the printer rasterizer is analyzed. The rank information added to the print data 3 by the print data interpretation unit 8 is compared with a preset standard before being interpreted in 10 and expanded into a bitmap, and in step (4), the rank information is compared. It is determined whether or not the information 22 is within a preset reference. If it is determined that the information 22 is within the reference, the print data 5 is transferred to the rasterizer 10 in step (5). ) Is converted (rasterized) into bitmap data, and is sent to the print engine 11 in step (7). Are printed on the recording medium), the process ends.
[0076]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step (4) that it is out of the standard, the print processing is stopped in step (8), and the processing ends.
[0077]
According to the present embodiment, in a network print system that should be used for normal business purposes, it is determined as unnecessary for business purposes depending on the usage environment, such as content that is not suitable for business purposes, such as entertainment-related content or recreation-related content. It becomes possible to prevent the printing of the Web page.
[0078]
[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, as a fourth embodiment, a network print system provided with means for analyzing developed image information will be described.
[0079]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a print control apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG.
[0080]
In the figure, reference numeral 30 denotes an image analysis unit which analyzes the image data developed into a bitmap image by the rasterizer 10. A reference database 9 stores various registered image data, and is referenced by the image analysis unit 30 when analyzing the image data.
[0081]
The image analysis unit 30 analyzes the image data rasterized by the normal print flow, and analyzes whether or not a pre-registered image is included in the image data. Image information registered in advance is registered in the database 9, and image data such as banknotes, securities, and stamps for which illegal output is legally restricted (whole image data on banknotes, securities, and stamps or (Characteristic image data) is included, and if it is determined that these images are included in the developed image data, the printing process is interrupted, and the process is terminated without printing. .
[0082]
If it is determined that these registered image data are not included, they are sent to the printer engine unit 11 as usual and printed on the print material.
[0083]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a fourth data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the data processing procedure by the print data interpretation unit 8 shown in FIG. In addition, (1)-(8) shows each step.
[0084]
First, when print data is sent from the print spooler 7 to the print data interpretation unit 8 in step (1), the sent print data is analyzed in step (2). In step (3), the printer rasterizer is analyzed. After being interpreted in 10 and expanded into a bitmap, the image data expanded in the image analysis unit 30 is compared with the registered image data stored in the reference database 9 and collated. In step (4), the registered image is registered. It is determined whether or not the data is included in the developed image data. If it is determined that the data is not included as a result of the determination, the data is transferred to the rasterizer 10 in step (5). In (6), it is converted (rasterized) into bitmap data, and is sent to the printer engine 11 in step (7). Lint material is (recording medium) to print, the process ends.
[0085]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step (4) that it is included, in step (8), the print process is stopped and the process ends.
[0086]
According to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent printing of banknotes, securities, stamps, etc., which are generally illegally copied.
[0087]
[Fifth Embodiment]
In the first to fourth embodiments, the case where the print is forcibly canceled has been described as a print restriction that is finally restricted. However, rasterization is stopped or a rasterized image is inappropriate. Eventually, when the bitmap information is not sent to the printer engine unit, the user is not informed of what was not printed due to the cause.
[0088]
Therefore, in the next fifth embodiment, printing is performed when print restriction is applied as in the first to fourth embodiments, but a restriction indicating that the image output is inappropriate for the printed out image. An example in which image information is partially added will be described.
[0089]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a printing control apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG.
[0090]
In the figure, reference numeral 12 denotes an image adding unit, which is a restricted image information IFO that an image prepared in advance, for example, an application used at the time of printing is restricted with respect to the image information ORIM converted into bitmap data by the rasterizer 10. It is converted into the combined image data IMD and sent to the printer engine unit 11. As a result, the synthesized image is as shown in FIG. 9, and the original image information ORIM is an image that shows that the printed image clearly violates the application usage restrictions. .
[0091]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of print output output from the printer engine unit 11 shown in FIG.
[0092]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a fifth data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the data processing procedure by the print data interpretation unit 8 shown in FIG. In addition, (1)-(8) shows each step.
[0093]
First, when print data is sent from the print spooler 7 to the print data interpretation unit 8 in step (1), the sent print data is analyzed in step (2). In step (3), the printer rasterizer is analyzed. The information of the network address of the computer, the name of the application software, and the serial number added to the print data 3 by the print data interpretation unit 8 was printed in the past before being interpreted in 10 and expanded into a bitmap. In step (4), it is determined whether or not the application software that created the corresponding print data 5 is printable application software registered in advance by the administrator. As a result, the printable data If not, the data is transferred to the rasterizer 10 in step (5), the print data 5 is converted (rasterized) into bitmap data in step (6), and the printer engine unit 11 is converted in step (7). Is printed on the print material (recording medium), and the process is terminated.
[0094]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step (4) that the data is print restriction data, the print data 3 is converted (rasterized) into bitmap data in step (8), and in FIG. 9 in step (9). The limited image information IFO shown (stored or generated in advance) is added and developed to rasterized image information ORIM, and is sent to the printer engine unit 11 in step (7) to be printed material (recording medium). And the process ends.
[0095]
According to the present embodiment, it is possible to recognize that the print job has a limited content by looking at the printed image, and at the same time, the printed image itself is different from the content to be originally printed. This means that the intended use is limited, for example, the use that is distributed to others is restricted.
[0096]
[Sixth Embodiment]
In the first to fourth embodiments, the case where the print itself is canceled has been described as the print restriction that is finally restricted. However, the rasterization is stopped or the rasterized image is inappropriate and eventually the printer engine unit. If the bitmap information is not sent to the user, the user is not notified of what was not printed because of what.
[0097]
Further, in the case of the fifth embodiment, although it can be determined that the print process is restricted in the finally printed image, the administrator who originally places the print restriction cannot grasp.
[0098]
Therefore, in the next sixth embodiment, although printing is performed when printing is restricted, the fact that the restricted information is printed is recorded when the restricted information is printed, and the administrator can refer to it. A print system having a function will be described.
[0099]
FIG. 11 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a printing control apparatus according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0100]
In the figure, reference numeral 13 denotes a print information recording unit, in which a print job to be processed is preset in the print data interpretation unit 8 shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, or the image analysis unit 30 shown in FIG. Keep record of information in case of conflicting restrictions.
[0101]
The information recorded in the print information recording unit 13 is generally limited by a password so that only the administrator can refer to it, and the administrator can refer to the information in the print information recording unit 13 at an arbitrary interval. It has become.
[0102]
According to the present embodiment, it is possible to collect information of a user who has performed printing that violates the print restriction set by the administrator when necessary.
[0103]
As described above, in each of the above embodiments, in a network print system having a function of connecting to a computer network such as a LAN and receiving print data, developing an image, and printing in response to a print request from an arbitrary computer, the network By analyzing print data generated on the above computer and having a function to restrict printing according to preset criteria, the print system automatically prints information that is undesirable for the administrator There is an effect that a restriction can be applied.
[0104]
In addition, when print data is generated on a computer on a network, it has a function of restricting printing in combination with a printer driver having a function of giving attribute information corresponding to a standard set in advance on the network printer. Thus, there is an effect that information regarding the use environment on the user's computer side can be used as a print restriction target.
[0105]
In addition, by giving unique information of the application used at the time of printing, it has a function of restricting printing according to a standard set in advance on the network printer, thereby creating and processing a document to be printed. The information can be used as a print restriction target.
[0106]
Also, when printing information on the Internet with a computer on the network, attribute information is added to the print data so as to include rank information defined by information in a database of a server generally called a content advisor on the Internet. By having a function to restrict printing according to preset criteria on the printer, it is possible to restrict printing of Web pages with contents that do not meet business purposes in a network printing system that should be used for normal business purposes. Has the effect of enabling.
[0107]
In addition, when the received print data is once developed into an image, a means for analyzing the developed image is provided, and by including a function for restricting the print function according to the analysis result, including pre-registered image information When the determination is made, there is an effect that the print can be limited.
[0108]
In addition, when the received print data is temporarily developed, a means for analyzing the developed image is provided, and when the developed image information includes illegally copied image information such as banknotes, securities, and stamps. By having the function of restricting the print function according to the analysis result, there is an effect that it is possible to restrict the printing of image information that is illegally copied such as banknotes, securities, and stamps.
[0109]
In addition, the print data generated on a computer on the network is analyzed, and the print restriction that is applied according to a preset standard has a function of canceling the print process, thereby restricting the print. This has the effect of preventing data printing.
[0110]
In addition, the print data generated on the computer on the network is analyzed, and the print restriction items applied according to the preset criteria are provided with information indicating that the print is restricted information By having this function, there is an effect of notifying that the printed image is in conflict with a preset limit. Furthermore, it has the effect of effectively limiting the redistribution of printed images.
[0111]
In addition, the print data generated on a computer on the network is analyzed, and the restricted information that is applied according to the preset criteria indicates that the restricted information was printed when the restricted information was printed. Is recorded and can be recognized by the administrator, so that the administrator can refer to the print record restricted at an arbitrary interval and can take appropriate measures for the user based on the reference result. It has the effect.
[0112]
The configuration of a data processing program that can be read out by a printing system to which the printing control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied will be described below with reference to the memory map shown in FIG.
[0113]
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read out by a printing system to which the printing control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.
[0114]
Although not particularly illustrated, information for managing a program group stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, creator, etc. is also stored, and information depending on the OS on the program reading side, for example, a program is identified and displayed. Icons may also be stored.
[0115]
Further, data depending on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs in the computer, and a program for decompressing when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.
[0116]
The functions shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10 in the present embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when an information group including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Is.
[0117]
As described above, a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium in the storage medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the programmed program code.
[0118]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0119]
As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, an EEPROM, or the like is used. it can.
[0120]
Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) or the like running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.
[0121]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0122]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the print control apparatus of the present invention, when a print job is received from a client computer, the received print is adapted to whether or not the client computer has an authority to output the print job. You can decide whether to perform rasterization from a job.
Further, according to another print control apparatus according to the present invention, when a print job is received from a client computer, whether the name of the application of the client computer outputting the print job is registered as an application capable of print output It is possible to determine whether or not to develop a raster image from the received print job.
[0123]
According to the printing system of the present invention, when printing is performed by transmitting a Web page to the print control apparatus, the client computer receives rank information from a content advisor server that manages the rank of the Web page on the Internet. , Generating a print job with URL rank information added to the print job and transferring the generated print job to the print control apparatus. It is possible to determine whether or not to develop a raster image from a received job.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which a printing control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention can be applied.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print control apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a third data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print control apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a fourth data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print control apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of print output output from the printer engine unit illustrated in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a fifth data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print control apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which the printing control apparatus according to the invention can be applied.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of this type of printing system.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Client computer
2 Application software
3 Documentary data created on application software
4 Printer driver
5 Print data
6 Network route
7 Print spooler
8 Print data interpretation section
9 Database for reference
10 Rasterizer
11 Printer engine section

Claims (9)

A printing control apparatus for outputting to the printer engine portion to expand by analyzing the print job received through the communication medium to the raster image,
Storage means for temporarily storing the received print job;
Print job analysis means for analyzing the print job stored in the storage means;
Database means to which the print job analyzing means refers when analyzing the print job;
Development means for developing the print job received from the print job analysis means into a raster image,
The print job analyzing means refers to the database means for information on the client computer that generated the print job included in the additional information of the print job,
As a result of referring to the database unit, the print job analyzing unit transmits the print job to the developing unit when it is determined that the client computer that generated the print job has the authority to output. Print control device.   The information of the client computer that generated the print job that the print job analyzing unit refers to the database unit is at least one of network address information of the client computer and license information of the application that generated the print job. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print control apparatus is a print control apparatus. A print control apparatus that analyzes a print job received via a communication medium, develops it into a raster image, and outputs the raster image to a printer engine unit.
Storage means for temporarily storing the received print job;
Print job analysis means for analyzing the print job stored in the storage means;
Database means to which the print job analyzing means refers when analyzing the print job;
Development means for developing the print job received from the print job analysis means into a raster image,
The print job analysis means refers to the database means name information of application software that generated the print job included in the additional information of the print job,
As a result of referring to the database unit, when it is determined that the name information of the application software that generated the print job has been registered as application software that can be output to the database unit and has print output authority Wherein the print job analysis means transmits the print job to the expansion means.   The name information of the application software registered as application software that can be printed out in the database means is the name of the application software registered in advance as application software that can be printed out by the administrator in the database means. The print control apparatus according to claim 3. A client computer equipped with a Web browser for acquiring Web page information from a Web server on the Internet and capable of instructing printing of the Web page information, and a content advisor server device that holds rank information for each Web page on the Internet And a print system comprising a print control device that analyzes a print job received from the client computer, develops it into a raster image, and outputs the raster image to a printer engine unit.
The client computer is
Web browser means for acquiring Web page information from a Web server on the Internet by specifying a URL;
URL inquiry transmitting means for transmitting the URL of the Web page information acquired by the Web browser means to refer to the content advisor server device;
Rank information receiving means for receiving rank information of the URL from the content advisor server device;
A printer driver that generates a print job to print out the web page information acquired by the web browser means;
The content advisor server device
URL inquiry receiving means for receiving the URL inquired from the client computer;
Database means for classifying and ranking Web pages on the interface for each category and holding URL rank information;
Search means for searching the database means for the URL received by the URL inquiry receiving means, and returning rank information of the URL to the client computer;
The print control device includes:
Storage means for temporarily storing the received print job;
Print job analysis means for analyzing the print job stored in the storage means;
Development means for developing the print job received from the print job analysis means into a raster image;
The printer driver of the client computer adds rank information of the URL received from the content advisor server device as additional information of the print job,
The print job analysis unit of the print control apparatus determines whether the rank information of the URL included in the additional information of the print job is within a preset reference. A printing system that transmits a print job to the expansion unit. A print control method in a print control apparatus that analyzes a print job received via a communication medium, develops it into a raster image, and outputs the raster image to a printer engine unit,
A storage step of temporarily storing the received print job in a storage unit;
A print job analysis step of analyzing the print job stored in the storage means;
Database means for reference when the print job analysis step analyzes the print job;
A development step of developing the print job received from the print job analysis step into a raster image,
If the print job analysis step determines that the client computer that generated the print job has the authority to output as a result of the reference to the database means, the print job analysis step transfers the print job to the expansion step. A printing control method characterized by transmitting. A print control method in a print control apparatus that analyzes a print job received via a communication medium, develops it into a raster image, and outputs the raster image to a printer engine unit,
A storage step of temporarily storing the received print job in a storage unit;
A print job analysis step of analyzing the print job stored in the storage means;
Database means to which the print job analyzing means refers when analyzing the print job;
A development step of developing the print job received from the print job analysis step into a raster image,
In the print job analyzing step, the name information of the application software that generated the print job included in the additional information of the print job is referred to the database unit, and the additional information of the print job is obtained as a result of the reference to the database unit. If it is determined that the name information of the application software that generated the print job included is registered as application software that can be printed in the database means and has print output authority, the print job analysis step A print control method, wherein the print job is transmitted to the development step. A client computer equipped with a Web browser for acquiring Web page information from a Web server on the Internet and capable of instructing printing of the Web page information, and a content advisor server device that holds rank information for each Web page on the Internet And a print control method of a printing system comprising a print control device that analyzes a print job received from the client computer, develops it into a raster image, and outputs the raster image to a printer engine unit.
The client computer is
A web browser step of acquiring web page information from a web server on the internet by specifying a URL;
A URL inquiry transmission step for transmitting the URL of the Web page information acquired by the Web browser step to the content advisor server device;
A rank information receiving step of receiving rank information of the URL from the content advisor server device;
Generating a print job by a printer driver in order to print out the web page information acquired by the web browser process;
The content advisor server device
A URL inquiry reception step of receiving the URL inquired from the client computer;
For the URL received in the URL inquiry reception step, search the database means that holds the rank information of the URL, which classifies and ranks the Web pages on the interface for each category, and stores the rank information of the URL in the client computer. A search process to reply,
The print control device includes:
A storage step of temporarily storing the received print job in a storage unit;
A print job analysis step of analyzing the print job stored in the storage means;
A development step of developing the print job received from the print job analysis step into a raster image;
The printer driver of the client computer adds rank information of the URL received from the content advisor server device as additional information of the print job,
The print job analysis step of the print control apparatus determines whether or not the rank information of the URL included in the additional information of the print job is within a preset standard. A printing control method for a printing system, wherein the print job is transmitted to the developing step.   A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the printing control method according to claim 6.

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